Ellis Amdur pick: “Bartitsu: the Gentlemanly Art of Self Defence”

A mini-documentary on Bartitsu, a martial art and self defence system founded by E. W. Barton-Wright in the year 1899. Bartitsu combined jiujitsu, savate, boxing and stick fighting; it was perhaps the first fighting art to have incorporated both Asian and European styles. After a few brief years of glory, Bartitsu was all but forgotten throughout most of the 20th Century.

Bartitsu is an eclectic martial art and self-defence method originally developed in England during the years 1898–1902. In 1903, it was immortalised (as “baritsu”) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the Sherlock Holmes mystery stories. Although dormant throughout most of the 20th century, Bartitsu has been experiencing a revival since 2002… Under Bartitsu is included boxing, or the use of the fist as a hitting medium, the use of the feet both in an offensive and defensive sense, the use of the walking stick as a means of self-defence. Judo and jujitsu, which are secret styles of Japanese wrestling, (I) would call close play as applied to self-defence. Quoted from Wikipedia

Photo credit above: Malta Historical Fencing Association